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Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
A Publication of the Missions Sector for the Salesian Communities and Friends of the Salesian Mission
D ear brothers, dear
friends,
Enlightened by the Stren-
na 2016, with Jesus, we
continue along this mis-
sionary journey with the
Spirit. For this reason the
Rector Major invites us
this year to educate our-
selves and to educate
young people to value
and foster in every sphere
of life solidarity with
those who suffer, the
renunciation of one’s self
to serve others, the ac-
ceptance of life as a gift,
as a service that makes us
better, which frees from
selfishness and gives
meaning to our lives.
“These skills have to be
proposed and practised,”
says Don Ángel. Very of-
ten at the root of a mis-
sionary vocation is the
initial and strong desire
to be close to those who
suffer. We think for ex-
ample to very special call
that Blessed Fr. Luigi
Variara had, a Salesian
missionary who was
called to serve the lepers
in Agua de Dios
(Colombia), and to found
from the charism of Don
Bosco, a religious Congre-
gation all centered on
this solidarity with those
who suffer.
Let us continue the ad-
venture of the Spirit!
Fr. Guillermo Basañes SDB
Councillor for the Missions
THE PARISH:
Although in his lifetime Don Bosco accepted 7 parishes, he was
always considered the parish priest of poor and abandoned boys
who were parishless. In fact, the Oratory in Valdocco was “a pa-
rish which evangelises”. It is no surprise that in not too distant past
the parish apostolate was not seen as a typical Salesian apostolate. It
was the 19th General Chapter which acknowledged the parish as the
place for “an exemplary care for the youth community” (GC19, IX, 3).
Then in 1971 the Special General Chapter recognised parish ministry as
“an authentic Salesian apostolate” because it gives us “possibilities
and favourable conditions for fulfilling our specific mission, the educa-
tion of young people of the poorer classes” (GC20, 400-401). In short,
the acceptance of the parish was justified by the possibility to minister
to young people and the working class which was eventually codified in
Constitutions art. 42 and Regulations art. 26. In this light parishes
were placed under Youth Ministry and the Frame of Reference for Sale-
sian Youth Ministry places ‘Parishes and Shrines entrusted to the Sale-
sians” under Activities and Works of Salesian Youth Ministry (Chp. VII),
together with the Oratory-Youth Centre, School and Vocational Train-
ing Centre, Higher Education and social services for youth at risk!
But in our globalised world today the context has drastically
changed. The parish - be it in the city, rural area or in the forest – has
become “a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of
their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach” (Evangelii
Gaudium,28). In it one meets not only lapsed Catholics but also
refugees, migrants, followers of other religions, and atheists of all
ages: “people not yet evangelised” referred to by Const. 30.
Hence, in every parish territory one finds not only the commit-
ted faithful but also many who believe that they have already known
Jesus enough and are contented of living their faith in a routine man-
ner or as something cultural. There are also those who have received
poorly the initial proclamation of the Gospel hence, having a weak and
vulnerable Christian identity, they eventually abandon their faith in
Jesus Christ or live it as something cultural without worshiping with
the community nor receiving the sacraments nor getting involved in
the life and activity of the Parish. Similarly, there are those who have
not heard about Christ, those who search for Someone or something
whom they sense but cannot name as well as those who go through
daily life deprived of any sense.
Indeed, today every parish is becoming more and more a real
missionary frontier where there is an urgent need of ordinary pastoral
care and activity, mission ad gentes and new evangelisation as pointed
out by St. John Paul II in Redemptoris Missio 32-33 way back in 1990!
It is necessary to rethink our Salesian parishes to make them
more missionary, parishes that are really outgoing! In such a truly mis-
sionary situation it is urgent that every Salesian parish overcomes the
pastoral work of ordinary maintenance which leads to pastoral acedia
and, instead, rediscover the importance and relevance of initial pro-
clamation as the key to pastoral conversion which, in turn, fosters mis-
sionary enthusiasm and brings about the joy of evangelisation
(Evangelii Gaudium, 79, 82-83).
Fr. Alfred Maravilla, SDB
Missions Sector
